Chavez freezes relations with Colombia and Spain (updated)

During a political meeting in Zulia State, western Venezuela, on Sunday, November 25, 2007, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frías announced bilateral relations with <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Colombia and Spain were frozen. At this moment, it is unclear whether Venezuelan Ambassadors in Bogota and Madrid are recalled or diplomatic relations are to be reduced to consular ones. The announcement followed the cancellation of his humanitarian mediation role to free 45 hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People's Army (FARC)  and the impasse with King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, during the XVII Ibero American Summit held in Chile. On Saturday, November 24, 2007, Colombian government explained its decision to cancel the humanitarian mediation role of President Chavez; it stated Chavez overlooked the warnings given during a meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe during the Ibero American Summit. Uribe asked for no further direct contacts with Colombian officials but indirect ones through his office. It was also suggested President Chavez made public terms of a possible meeting between FARC leader, Marulanda, and President Uribe.  Colombian government also expressed its anger at TELESUR for showing a recent video - proof of life - of one the hostages held by FARC.  

On Sunday morning, Uribe accused Chavez of trying to set up a FARC government in Colombia. We wanted a mediation to end terrorism and not to promote it, Uribe concluded.  The Venezuelan government rejected such accusations. After calling Uribe a liar, Chavez declared he had been betrayed by him. Diplomatic and commercial relations with Colombian are to be frozen as a response to such lies, Chavez added.  

<?xml:namespace prefix = o />Bilateral relations with Spain have deteriorated rapidly after the King and Chavez impasse at the XVII Ibero American Summit. Chavez has demanded an apology from the king Juan Carlos but he never obliged.

Venezuela is just seven days away from a Referendum on Constitutional Reform. According to BBC Mundo, polls show the governmental proposal would be defeated on December 2nd, 2007. Chavez administration states otherwise: 59% would vote for the draft constitution. The opposition changed its previous stand against the Referendum. It is now busy promoting a high turn out.

PS: Late on Sunday and during a TV interview in Caracas with different journalists, President Chavez commented again on Colombia. He said the political Discourse of Presidents Uribe and Bush were alike. Thus, President Uribe has just removed his mask. He concluded Venezuela would find it very difficult to rejoin CAN.  As a result of the current crisis, Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba will now face charges at the Supreme Court for treason an collusion to her country.  France offered her political asylum as death threats against her have increased. On Monday 26 November 2007, Spanish government started actions to determine the real and exact extent of the current diplomatic crisis with Venezuela. They intend to find out what President Chavez meant when he froze the bilateral relation with Spain. 

Sources: El Universal, Telesur, Unionradio, Globovision, VTV, BBC Mundo, Aljazeera, El Tiempo, Caracol, El Nuevo Siglo, El Mundo.es, El Pais, RNV, VIVE, Financial Times, IPS

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